A major new study has found that eating a low-fat diet could raise the risk of early death by 28 per cent.

Research published in The Lancet reports that those who eat more healthy saturated fats such as full-fat dairy foods are more likely to live longer compared to those who eat higher levels of carbohydrate and refined sugars.

The study was conducted by Canadian scientists at McMaster University and provides further data that the low-fat guidelines, favoured by the NHS, need to be overhauled.

Now, these findings from 135,000 adults show that those who cut back on healthy saturated fats had shorter lives than those who ate more of these fats. In comparison, those who ate more starchy carbohydrate such as bread, pasta and rice were missing out on vital nutrients, and faced a 28 per cent higher risk of early death.

Lead researcher Dr Mahshid Dehghan said: "A high-carbohydrate diet - greater than 60 per cent of energy - is associated with higher risk of mortality. Higher intake of fats, including saturated fats, are associated with lower risk of mortality."

The NHS has advocated against eating too much saturated fat for over 30 years, believing it could increase the risk of heart disease. However, their evidence base for this theory has been disproved in recent years.

Researchers worldwide are now coming together to combat this health advice which could actually be having a detrimental impact on global health.

Dr Andrew Mente, another study researcher, said: "Our data suggests that low fat diets put populations at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Loosening the restriction on total fat and saturated fat and imposing limits on carbohydrates when high to reduce intake to moderate levels would be optimal."

Dr Aseem Malhotra, a leading cardiologist and co-author of The Pioppi Diet, said it was time "for a complete U-turn" regarding the UK's dietary guidelines. He added: "The sooner we do that the sooner we reverse the epidemic in obesity and diabetes and the sooner start improving health."

Our very own Low Carb Program, which guides users about why lowering carb intake and eating healthy fats is so beneficial, welcomed its 250,000th member this week. The program has been shown to help people with diabetes lower their HbA1c, reduce dependency on medication and even put their type 2 diabetes into remission.